JoaquÃn Navarro-Valls
Joaquin Navarro -Valls ( born November 16, 1936 in Cartagena, Spain) was from 1984 to 2006 director of the Press Office of the Holy See.
Life
After the German school visit Navarro -Valls studied medicine at the University of Granada and the University of Barcelona, and journalism at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. In 1961 he received his degree in internal medicine and surgery, received his doctorate in field Psychiatry ( title of the thesis: Trastornos psiquiátricos en los traumas craneales, German: " Psychiatric disorders after head trauma " ) and taught at the Faculty of Medicine. In 1968 he completed his studies of journalism and 1980, the communication sciences.
Pope John Paul II appointed Navarro -Valls in 1984 as director of the Vatican press office. Also, he accompanied John Paul II on most of the more than 100 trips abroad. After the death of the Pope Navarro -Valls first headed further press office. After Pope Benedict XVI. had asked to be relieved of his duties in June 2006, he resigned on 11 July from his post. His successor was the former director general of Vatican Radio, Father Federico Lombardi SJ.
Since the age of 20 Navarro-Valls is a member of Opus Dei. From 1974 to 1977 he was the spokesperson of this organization. Navarro -Valls lives celibate.
Honors
Works
- Encounters and gratitude. Memories and thoughts of the Press Secretary of Pope John Paul II, Aachen, 2011.